Measure Up with a Homemade Thermometer

Introduction

Are you eager to understand how everyday items work, or interested in making useful objects and instruments yourself? Have you ever imagined you could build your own thermometer? In this activity, you will make a liquid thermometer to track how temperatures vary with location, indoors or outdoors. What will turn out to be the hottest spot in your home? What about the coolest? Your very own homemade thermometer will be able to tell you!

Credits

Materials

• Clear plastic drinking straw, preferably a 0.2 inch diameter straw.
• Metric ruler
• Fine-tipped permanent marker
• Clean narrow-necked, small bottle with lid. Travel size bottles like these available from Amazon work well. Washed empty food coloring or vanilla extract bottles work well too.
• Rubbing alcohol
• A few drops or red, blue, or green food coloring. Liquid food coloring works best.
• Paper or cloth towels
• Modeling clay. Air-dry clay works well. Ultra-light modeling clay is easy to model and clean.
• Medicine dropper or syringe
• Water
• Small bowl
• Ice cubes
• Optional: Store-bought thermometer